The wise men…so familiar to millions of Christians and non-Christians alike. Icons of the awe-inducing account of Jesus’ birth and early years. The inspiration for hauntingly lovely Christmas melodies and countless works of art; yet shrouded in mystery and beauty like the star they followed. It comes as no surprise to me that someone would want to set their pen to write a story about these men and their journey– but seeing it so skillfully done by author Patrick W. Carr–that is a gift in itself.

The End of the Magi is the tale of Myrad, who must flee for his life when his adoptive father is murdered. Myrad takes up his father’s work as a Magi– one of a group of men faithfully counting down the days till the Messiah’s birth based on a calendar established in Daniel’s prophecy (see Daniel chapter 9)– while encountering dangers and misfortunes far beyond what any one person should have to endure.

As Myrad journeys, he finds new family, new enemies, political intrigue, and ultimately makes his way (following the star) to meet the Christ-child. How he arrives at that point in one piece can only be attributed to God’s protection, but I loved the grand scale of this story; fast-paced and colorful, the perfect book to read on a winter day when you want to feel a scorching sun on your face and sand under your feet. It’s easy to escape the cold and dreary of December when you are Myrad, riding your camel through the desert or drawing a bow on hostile armies!

The End of the Magi is easily one of my favorite Christian fiction books I’ve reviewed thus far– Carr’s take on the Magi was compelling and thought provoking. The best Christian fiction pushes me to re-examine Biblical texts with fresh eyes, and Carr achieved this goal while also giving us an energetic, thrilling adventure with likeable and memorable characters. To be fair, I do feel Carr could have done a better job wrapping up the story– while I was happy with how things turn out, the epilogue felt rushed and a bit sloppy to me. It was as if the author originally intended to end the story earlier on and then decided to try to pack 30 extra years into a few final chapters (last minute before publication). Whether or not that is true, I found myself scratching my head. I also saw complaints from other reviewers about the level of geopolitics in this tale, and I agree that this might not be the book for you if you have a distaste for world history or power struggles. Personally, I found it fascinating to see a broader picture of what was happening in other countries outside of Israel at the time of Christ, especially from the perspective of such enjoyable characters.

Flaws aside, this story was excellent– worthy of five stars… and the perfect choice to purchase or place on hold at the library for a Christmastime read! I’m hoping posting this review a bit before Thanksgiving will allow you the time to do just that. If you have a favorite Christian fiction Christmas novel of your own, share it in the comments below!